Shrimps are continuous intermittent feeders and hence should be fed several times throughout the day. The frequent feeding of smaller meal rations also provides better efficiency in nutrient assimilation. In actual practice, there is usually controversy on the optimum feeding frequency (Cruz, 1991).

During the early growth stages of the fry, food consumed per feeding is relatively less while the metabolic rate per unit weight is high. On this basis, hatcheries employ very frequent feedings of up to eight or more times a day. Early in the growout culture natural food in the pond is relatively abundant and is consumed in significant quantities by the shrimp. Frequent feedings during the first month of culture is therefore not necessary. Any benefit from this practice at this early stage of culture will not compensate for the time, effort and labor cost involved (Cruz, 1991).

For the first month after stocking, the common practice of twice or thrice a day feeding is sufficient. This is increased to fourtimes per day at the start of the second month. If at the beginning of culture natural food already appears to be scarce, feeding may be started immediately at three or four times per day (Cruz, 1991).